Diss hotel hosts Alastair Cook following final test match

Fresh from being lauded as one of the greats after announcing his retirement from international cricket, England's highest test run-scorer Alastair Cook is set to visit the region for a special Q&A event.

The opening batsman will step down from England duty after the final test in the series against India that starts today at The Oval in which England have an unassailable 3-1 lead.

Stepping up to the crease for the final time as an international batsman, the 33-year-old, who captained his country in a record 59 test matches, will be hoping to add to the 12,254 runs he has made for England.

It is sure to be an emotional occasion and this and recollections and anecdotes from his remarkable international career will feature when he visits Brome Grange Hotel, near Diss, on October 18.

Local cricket teams are being invited to attend the evening which will see him in conversation with former England allrounder Geoff Miller.

Former England cricketer Geoff Miller will be in conversation with Alastair Cook at the event near Diss. Picture: Brome Grange Hotel

Mr Cook, whose passion away from cricket is working on the family farm near Leighton Buzzard with his wife Alice, is no stranger to Norfolk having previously spoken of liking to regularly visit Morston Hall and been pictured deer stalking in the county.

In cricket whites he has broken records on a consistent basis on his way to becoming England’s highest scoring batsman of all time having broken Graham Gooch’s 20-year record in 2015.

He began playing for his country aged just 21 he went on to become the youngest English player to make 1,500, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000 and 5,000 test match runs.

Having racked up 160 test match appearances before today, he is sixth on the all-time list of test run-scorers, 11,627 as an opener, and became the only player to score hundreds in his first five tests as England captain.

Brome Grange Hotel in Brome, near Diss, which will host Alastair Cook. Picture: Best Western

He ranks below only the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting in the highest test match scorers of all time. Having already eclipsed Brian Lara, 147 runs in his final test match this weekend would see him move in to fifth on the prestigious list.

• Alastair Cook Q&A with Geoff Miller is at Brome Grange Hotel on October 18, tickets £35 including two-course meal. Full details at 01379 870456 or info@bromegrangehotel.co.uk